England and Australia players go head-to-head at Headingley

bet365 have released a series of player markets for the first NatWest Challenge match between England and Australia, which takes place at Headingley on Thursday.

Though the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Symonds have starred with the bat at times in the previous one-dayers this summer, the bowlers have dominated proceedings for the most part. However, the Man Of The Match market doesn't exactly reflect that. Batsmen, or all-rounders, dominate the market, with Brett Lee the only out and out bowler in the top eight.

Lee does share favouritism though at 9/1 (10.00), with Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Flintoff and Symonds. Marcus Trescothick, Pietersen and Ricky Ponting are all 10/1 (11.00), Matthew Hayden and Steve Harmison are 11/1 (12.00) and Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn and Andrew Strauss are 12/1. Paul Collingwood, who's been in excellent form and already has a Man of the Match award this summer, is 18/1.

The most interesting batsman match bet concerns Hayden and Trescothick, with the Australian rated at 8/11 (1.72) to Trescothick's evens (2.00) to make the most runs at Headingley. Neither man has exactly hit top form this year and it already looks like McGrath and Lee have got the measure of Trescothick outside his off stump. The Englishman averages 36.6 at Headingley, but against Australia in one-dayers it's 27.78. Hayden averages 40 in one-day cricket but surprisingly, he also averages just 27 against England, though he's never played a one-day match at Headingley. On paper then, this one looks close, but Hayden has more solidity about him and he deserves favouritism.

Likewise, England are 11/10 (2.10) outsiders to outscore Australia 4/6 (1.66) in terms of their opening partnership. Of their four meetings already this summer, Hayden and Gilchrist have outscored Trescothick and Strauss on three occasions.

Interestingly, Strauss and Trescothick are joint favourites at 7/2 (4.50) to be top England runscorer in the opening match, while Kevin Pietersen is 9/2 (5.50) and Michael Vaughan, Matt Prior and Andrew Flintoff are all 5/1 (6.00). Collingwood is 13/2 (7.50). For Australia, Hayden and Gilchrist are 7/2 (4.50) favourites, while Ponting is 9/2 (5.50) and Martyn and Symonds are 5/1 (6.00).

The toss will be even more crucial at Headingley, where conditions usually suit the bowlers early on. Of the 27 completed one-day matches there, 18 of them have been won by the chasing side, while of England's 12 victories there, 10 have come when batting second.